Triathlons good fit for former NSU, Central ace

July 07, 2007

At Aberdeen Central and Northern State, Steph Hengel Popelar was a multi-sport standout. Twenty years later, nothing has changed. Hengel Popelar has qualified for the last four International Triathlon Union world championships. Last week at the National Age Group Championships at Hagg Lake in Portland, Ore., she qualified for this year's and next year's world championships in a double-qualifier event. In late August, she will travel to Hamburg, Germany, to compete in the 2007 triathlon championships. On June 7, 2008, she will be in Vancouver for the 2008 championships. In the last four years, the world championships have taken Hengel Popelar to Switzerland (2006), Hawaii (2005), Portugal (2004) and New Zealand (2003). “I did my very first triathlon in 1990,” said Hengel Popelar of Parker, Colo. “It was fun, but I really didn't pursue it. But when I came back to do another one in 1996, it stuck.” Hengel Popelar is a paralegal who does legal analyst work for the money order corporation Western Union. She also has done about 80 triathlons. “I probably do about eight a year,” she said. Hengel Popelar is getting better. Her time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 26 seconds last weekend was her personal best by about two minutes. Hengel Popelar finished second in the age 40-44 division to qualify for the world championships. She swam 1,500 meters (25.53), biked 40K (1:05.1) and ran 10K (42.01). Those are the standard Olympic distances for a triathlon. Tracy Orcutt of Seattle won the 40-44 age division in 2:13.06. Hengel Popelar was 12th overall of the 500 women entered and Jennifer Garrison of Naperville, Ill., was the women's overall winner in 2:09.36. Hengel Popelar had the best biking time in her division and won a bike. “I have been very fortunate to have been able to travel all over the world for these triathlons,” she said. “There have been some nice miles, great times and nice memories. It has been a great opportunity to experience different cultures.” A friend who was on the same corporate running team as Hengel Popelar was responsible for luring her back to triathlons in 1996. “She was extremely into triathlons and was so excited whenever she talked about them. She got me hooked.” Hengel Popelar set a state record in the two-mile run in high school. At NSU, she played on a Wolves' basketball team that went 27-3 and she finished 30th at the national cross country meet. These days, a typical week of training consists of four to six workouts in each of the three disciplines of a triathlon. That adds up to about three hours a day during the week and five hours a day on weekends. “There is a lot of time commitments involved,” said Hengel Popelar, who is eyeing an ironman competition (2.4 mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) when she has more time to train. “The training just becomes second nature. It is a passion and a lifestyle that is ingrained in me. Each triathlon is unique and with it comes a satisfaction of completing it. The triathlon community is like a family. You know how hard everyone has worked just to get to the point of competing. You see a lot of high fives and pats on the backs at triathlons.” Hengel Popelar is the daughter of Bernie and Jane Hengel of Aberdeen. “They are excellent supporters and my best fans.” News-sports editor John Papendick: (800) 925-4100 or 622-2323 jpapendick@aberdeennews.com